Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Sandwich Monks Wall Nature Reserve, RSPB, BTO, Kent Ornithological Society, Kent Moth Group, Kent Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation UK/Europe, British Dragonfly Society, Western Palearctic. UNICEF, MSF.https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mvxcsnouvs22Re. Buff-breasted Sandpipers, I recall 1 (or was it a pair?) at Blagdon Lake in October 1986. Then refrained from twitching to focus on my patch @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social. Long wait until 17th Sept 2022 when Martin 'Radar' Sutherland found one on the shore - nearly bust a gut running #KentBirding20 Sep 2026 13:34 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvxcsnouvs22https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mvvjvh7bz22rReview of New Birds of Sheffield & mention of late David Herringshaw in latest @britishbirds.bsky.social prompted a flashback to 11th Sept 1975. Biking out to Redmires on my red Dawes racer with a pair of Dixons 10x50 Specials slung round my neck & finding a Buff-breasted Sandpiper #yorkshirebirding19 Sep 2026 20:35 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvvjvh7bz22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mvnpyjaklk2fThe confiding juvenile Dotterel found on the shingle @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social this morning attracted a small steady procession of respectful admirers, only troubled by some wind-blown litter and no doubt bemused by it's probable first contact with homo snapiens 📷🤳 #Kentbirding #Kentnature16 Sep 2026 18:03 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvnpyjaklk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3muyy2ed4rc26A recent phenomenon @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social has been fish fry shoals driving gulls & terns into feeding frenzies. Today in flat calm & light drizzle, action was close inshore with at least 5 Black Terns. Not quite Attenborough-esque but video footage attached for your delectation #KentBirding08 Sep 2026 12:02 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3muyy2ed4rc26https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3musbqolcf22iA calm warm sunny morning perfect for a late season trip to Kingsdown Leas. Scanning the Everlasting Pea fortunate to find one worn Long-tailed Blue. Several Adonis were still on the wing, inc this ♂️which had me 🤔 😕 as it had lost its internal hindwing spots @savebutterflies.bsky.social #KentNature05 Sep 2026 20:06 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3musbqolcf22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mupfbwzuuk24With recent White-winged (old school Black) Terns at 'Stodders' & 'Dunge', it should have been more on our radar, so it was a nice surprise when an adult was picked out from the now usual melee of terns & gulls plus occasional skua during this morning's seawatch @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social.04 Sep 2026 16:32 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupfbwzuuk24https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3muk7d65ej22nWell they do say good things come in threes & so it was again this time @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social moffice. Passenger was new for recording area after a near miss in Sandwich Aug 2019, Cosmopolitan was only 2nd after one Aug 2011 while Barred Hook-tip was 4th after 2 in Sept 82 & Sept 92 #teammoth02 Sep 2026 15:02 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3muk7d65ej22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3muaofhjmes23A rare 3 Skua day @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social. A dainty dark morph juv Long-tailed Skua getting as good as it gave, then 3 Arctics one of which pursued Sarnies over the shore. In the afternoon, a dark Pomarine barrelled thru. Back at base a Kind of Blue moff here in Birdland #TeamMoth #KentBirding29 Aug 2026 20:05 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3muaofhjmes23https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mu3syut2xk2pIsn't it good, Norwegian Wood? (This Bird has Flown!) [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Aug 2026 21:44 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3syut2xk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mu3oi5wfu22fPainted Lady still on the wing @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social - well, just about. It's been a long hot summer and I too am feeling a bit frayed around the edges. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #KentNature27 Aug 2026 20:23 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3oi5wfu22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mtuar4yd6k2dhttps://www.justgiving.com/page/grace-r-1?utm_source=CL&utm_medium=DT24 Aug 2026 21:29 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtuar4yd6k2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mtnuaqye3c27Lesser Crested Tern, Pegwell Bay, August 22nd 1996. First for @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social and second for Kent following first at @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social 6th May 1989 both presumed to be the bird that frequented the Farnes. High time for another #KentBirding but will settle for a Sooty 🙏 [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Aug 2026 08:29 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtnuaqye3c27https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mtea7jank22fHad given up searching for the Red-backed Shrike at the Back of Beyond Roaring Gutter (aka Hacklinge Marshes, Lydden Valley, Worth) when up it popped 300 metres away from where first found yesterday. #KentBirding Always happy to expend a handful of pixels capturing a Shrike in a Bush18 Aug 2026 12:36 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtea7jank22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mt7uurwme22uAt last, a free day to brave the M25/Dartford Tunnel & visit the River Stour estuary at Cattawade in Suffolk to twitch the Hud'wit. Picking up a/the bird quickly in the salt-marsh, it was 45 mins before it displayed its diagnostic underwing pattern (never a doubt😬) & another hour to grab a photo.16 Aug 2026 19:03 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt7uurwme22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mt2iyk3i7s2rThere were 'calcarius' where the reddish postdiscal band on fore-wing upperside extended basally &/or with more marked ocelli on hind-wing upperside. Possibly gender differences 🤔 -but also similar to Common Brassy Ringlet, E. cassioides. Does it occur in Slovenia 🤔 @europebutterfly.bsky.social14 Aug 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2iyk3i7s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3msygc6oigc2ePrimary target was the endemic & local Lorkovic's Brassy Ringlet, Erebia calcarius, of which there were many to study & photo. Water, E. pronoe & Yellow-spotted Ringlets, E. m. manto were also plentiful. However we were probably 2-3 weeks past the peak (exacerbated by the heat) for the other Erebia.13 Aug 2026 19:53 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3msygc6oigc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3msyexjfjkc2eUp to the high pass (2072m) on Slovenia/Italy border below Mt Mangart (Mangrt) at 2679m. Spectacular views but car parks rammed with walkers & folks escaping the heat. Indeed on both days the mountain was 'full' & we were turned away - until I showed my @savebutterflies.bsky.social card. Honest!13 Aug 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyexjfjkc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3msuoyyvdks2tBack from a week in Slovenia with @greenwingstours.bsky.social led by Lajos Nemeth. Some highlights follow. An all too brief visit (I could have done with a week or two!) to a legendary dragonfly hot spot - the Šijec Bog on the Pokljuka plateau in the Triglav National Park in NW Slovenia.12 Aug 2026 08:19 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3msuoyyvdks2thttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mrdqtogdfc2cA female Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus, in my East Kent garden. Logically: an unusual individual where the blue suffusion extends to the wing margins. Emotionally: absolutely beautiful! #KentNature @savebutterflies.bsky.social23 Jul 2026 21:11 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdqtogdfc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mrcu4qgad22kLast year at Sandwich Bay, there was a 2nd emergence of Scarce Blue-tailed Damsels in mid-July peaking at 12+ on 19th & 14+ on 30th. This year there've been no July sightings (I think) until today. Maybe the heat-wave is to blame🤔. It's certainly impacted the anisoptera which are noticeably scarce.23 Jul 2026 12:37 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrcu4qgad22khttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mrap5wwayc2hLast post from our week with @mariposanature.bsky.social in Serbia on the False Comma tour. It just has to be Poplar Admiral, Limenitis populi, a species that had eluded me until then. First was at Topli Do followed by 4 (four!) at Brlog & along the Dojkinacka; all dark males of the form tremulae.😂22 Jul 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrap5wwayc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mra7e5p7x22hPlease welcome @sandwichbirdobs.bsky.social to the bsky community [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Jul 2026 11:20 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mra7e5p7x22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mr7tf6ujqs23Evening walk across New Downs Sandwich Bay. The Pectoral Sandpiper, dwarfed by juv Water Rails, still in 'South Scrape' one of the borrows created by the EA (design input from Bird Observatory) during creation of new Sea Defences. Also 4 Bearded Tits taking grit/seed off the mud & 29 Cattle Egrets.22 Jul 2026 07:46 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr7tf6ujqs23https://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mr5xzk2sfk2qToo cool & overcast to do my Big Butterfly Count but pottering around the garden revealed this perfect freshly emerged female Wall Brown yet to be bothered by her suitors. As ever the French have a word for it - La Mégère (the Shrew). Cherchez la femme n'est-ce pas? @savebutterflies.bsky.social21 Jul 2026 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5xzk2sfk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mqwjzxijic2iA morning with Dan Tuson @naturalengland.bsky.social & Rebecca Levy @savebutterflies.bsky.social exploring Ileden Downs, new species-rich meadows created by arable reversion as part of East Kent Landscape Recovery Project. It holds the largest UK population of Bright Wave moth. #KentNature18 Jul 2026 15:05 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwjzxijic2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/andrewlipczynski.bsky.social/post/3mqmac2vyuk27Willow Emerald Damselfly, Chalcoestes viridis, now out. First recorded in UK in East Sussex (1979), Kent (1992) & Sandwich Bay 7th Aug 2014. Quickly established until almost wiped out by the ‘Beast from the East’ in 2018. Now fully recovered & widespread, record day/site count of 66 on 21st Aug 202414 Jul 2026 12:44 +0000at://did:plc:jqpk62bitjhe6cwt5qsttkvp/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmac2vyuk27